Gemotions

The invitation sat on Amelia's fridge, a cheerful splash of color mocking her. Liam's party. Laser tag, pizza, the whole shebang. On the same day as hers. A quiet dinner at that new Italian place. Just a few close friends, a chance to actually *talk*. She slammed the fridge door a little harder than necessary.

Her carefully crafted seating plan felt suddenly flimsy, inadequate. Amelia imagined Liam's boisterous laughter, the flashing lights, the organized chaos. She, in contrast, envisioned polite smiles and forced conversation. A knot tightened in her stomach.

She found herself meticulously cleaning her apartment, scrubbing the already spotless countertops with unnecessary vigor. The scent of lemon cleaner did little to soothe her. Each wipe was a frustrated breath exhaled.

The phone buzzed with a text from Liam: "So hyped for your party! See you there!" Amelia almost deleted it before responding, a clipped "See you there." The tiny letters mocked her.